Asian Arts | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries | Message Board

Hi Can anyone advise regarding origins and dating of this vase? All information will be much appreciated.
There is some mark that you can see on the lower side view.
Cheers
Mo

Hello Mo,

Your vase is Japanese and this kind of ware is mostly called "Sumida". It was made from 1890's till early 1940's for export to the west. In 1924 they moved the pottery from Tokyo to Yokohama and then started to use more colors. The use of orange was most significant. Your's doesn't have that orange color which might be an indication it's made before 1924. The mark you show us is the signature of "Ban-ni".

Regards,

Arjan

This is a Japanese Sumida Gawa vase with what appears to be the mark of potter Ishiguro Koko and probably made around 1900 of a bit later.

If you use the forum's search feature, you'll find other discussions of Sumida Gawa wares.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Hello Mo & Arjan,

I know that some websites call this mark 'Ban-ni', although the 2001 publication 'Sumida ... According to Us' by Herbert Karp and Gardner Pond clearly illustrates it under the heading of Ishiguro Koko and makes no mention of a 'Ban-ni' mark.

The two kanji characters in the name are 'Fragrant' (same as in Hong Kong the 'Fragrant Harbor') and 'Two' (the numeral). Inasmuch as the pair together form the name Kouji (also transcribed Koji), I infer it possibly to be a pun on the Koko name, since it apparently could be construed as reading 'Ko Twice' but more properly would mean 'Kou the Second' (at least in my Chinese mindset).

When I ran the Romanji form "Ban-ni' through an online Japanese dictionary, I came up with many hits on 'Ban' as a character that in Chinese is the surname Pan and is written in a manner similar to the 'Kou' character. I wonder if this might have created confusion concerning the mark.

In any event, perhaps Emiko or another well-informed forum contributor in matters Japanese might clarify the use of Ban-ni for this Sumida mark.

Best regards,

Bill H.

Hi to all,
Please look at the site below for your reference.
http://www.sumidayaki.com/backstamp/index.html

I do not have time to translate everything in the site, but as long as I can tell, the mark on the vase here can be read as "koji" which means the second "ko", made by Gozo Ishiguro also known as Koko Ishiguro.
I hope this site will be helpful to you.
Best Regards,
Emiko

Hi Emiko,

Thanks much for your helpful input and link to the site. Some but not all of the marks seen there appear to have been 'borrowed' from the book I mention. All's fair in love and the internet, right? :)

Best regards,

Bill H.

Hi Bill,
That's too bad, I guess he didn't think about that anybody will be noticing. Most these pre war export ware was ittle known to Japanese, and also the trouble is the over sea buyers or collectors had a hard time to trace the origin of the products. Little guessing work could lead to a big story.
Emiko

Hi Emiko, all,

Thanks for the link.
What I don't understand is that these marks seems to be atributed to Ishiguro the third and not the second. Or am I totally lost now?

Regards,

Arjan

Asian Arts | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries | Message Board